Welcome back, friends! Yesterday we spoke of truth vs lies, deception and delusion. We focused on Scriptural evidence that truth matters to God, and Jesus defines truth. It is important to read that post first, as it lays the groundwork for where we go today and the few days that follow. Find it here.

I’m going to approach today’s example intentionally because this is certainly not the first time concern has arisen, based upon what has been spoken through the Catholic church. However, I’m also approaching this very gently, with these statements:

• Only God knows the heart of any human being or religious group. I make no judgment on the status of salvation of anyone who calls themselves a Catholic. I am certain we will have Catholic brothers and sisters in heaven when we stand before the Lord.
• Having said that, certain tenets of Catholicism do not align with God’s Word. For example, Catholic theology venerates Mary to a place of high worship and often teaches parishioners to pray to Mary. Meanwhile the Bible explicitly teaches that God alone is worthy of worship, and we are to pray to none other than God.
• This is by no means a judgment of PEOPLE, but of ACTIONS. However, certain teachings of the Catholic church simply do not align with God’s Word. Thus, there are potential pitfalls that result in non-Biblical principles exhibited by recent popes, as well as the current one.
• This is not so much about politics as it is about what DRIVES politics. Politics is a legitimate arena in which God has placed us. Everyone, including followers of Jesus should participate in the civic governance of cities, states and nations. In modern-day terms, we call that “politics.”

Here is an example of deception coming from a highly regarded religious leader, and its potential consequences in the political sphere:

An important post by Jesús Enrique Rosas on X:

So the Pope met with David Axelrod last week. David Axelrod. Obama’s campaign architect. A man who is not Catholic, has never met a pope before, and whose entire career has been engineering political narratives for the American left.

And then, by pure coincidence, the Pope immediately started lobbing shots at the Trump administration, and three US Cardinals popped up on 60 Minutes doing the same thing.

All organically, I’m sure.

I’m a practicing Catholic. I need you to understand that part. But in my opinion, Trump has all the right to lash out at him. Maybe you’ll disagree, but in the end, Trump talks like Trump. Water is wet. I’m talking about MY Church being run like a DNC satellite office but with a golden throne.

This is the same Vatican that watched governments padlock churches during COVID and said nothing. That let Biden take communion while funding abortion and said nothing. That fired Bishop Strickland for defending actual Church doctrine. That removed Bishop Fernández in Puerto Rico for defending religious exemptions THE CATECHISM ITSELF supports.

But somehow Trump is the threat to human dignity.

Pope Francis was bad. Leo has turned out to be worse. Francis at least was vague about his politics. Leo went and hired the consulting firm.

The man has ignored the slaughter of Christians across Nigeria, the Sahel, India, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan. Hundreds of believers murdered, churches burned, pastors kidnapped. His response? Platitudes about dialogue.

OF COURSE he won’t even name who’s doing the killing.

But he’ll fly across continents to make interfaith gestures the week after his people coordinated a media hit on a sitting US president.

The weaponization of belief is obvious. You get the Pope to pick a fight with Trump, and suddenly millions of conservative Catholics have to choose between their faith and their vote.

Our enemy, the devil, will infiltrate wherever he has an open door. As conservative Christians, if we don’t stand for what is right in America, we will end up like much of Europe…overrun by an evil religious system that vows to destroy all we hold dear. You may not like politics, but we are called to be active in every sphere of life, including civic engagement. If we as believers do not stand for righteousness, who will?

Certainly not the current pope.

Please pray for one another! As stated previously, I know for certain we will spend eternity with some of our Catholic friends who know and recognize Jesus as the way, the TRUTH, and the life. Uplift one another, but do not bow to false teaching (whether it be in the Catholic church or in evangelical Christian churches who also may be off the rails).

Stand strong on the Word of God! Today’s “homework” is to continue with yesterday’s assignment. (Find it here!) Meet you back here tomorrow!